Washington – Congressional leaders announced a deal Tuesday on a six-month bill to fund the federal government, thereby removing the possibility of a government shutdown — and the political spectacle that would go with it — before the election.

“It will provide stability for the coming months,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, told reporters. “It will be free of riders. This is very good because we can resolve these critical issues that directly affect the country as soon as the election is over and move on to do good things.”

“Leader Reid and I have reached an agreement by which the House and Senate will approve a six-month continuing resolution in September to keep the government operating into next year,” House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said in a statement. “During the August district work period, committee members and their staff will write legislation that can be passed by the House and Senate in September and sent to President Obama to be signed into law.”

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney called the agreement “a welcome development.” In a statement, he said, “The president has made clear that it is essential that the legislation to fund the government adheres to the funding levels agreed to by both parties last year, and not include ideological or extraneous policy riders. The president will work with leaders in both parties to sign a bill that accomplishes these goals.”